Discrimination in order to distribute employment opportunities among the generations is a legitimate objective

Petersen v Berufungsausschuss für Zahnärzte für den Bezirk Westfalen - Lippe [2010] Case C-341/08 ECJ

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13/01/2010

  • The ECJ ruled that Article 2(5) Directive 2000/78/EC precludes setting a maximum age for practising as a panel dentist when the measure ostensibly aimed at protecting the health of patients does not apply to non-panel (private) dentists.
  • Article 6(1) does not preclude setting a maximum age when aiming to share out employment opportunities among the generations.
  • The national court must identify the aim pursued by the measure and the age limit in light of the stated reasons.
The case of Petersen v Berufungsausschusss für Zahnaertze für den Bezirk Westfalen-Lippe concerned Directive 2000/78/EC – Articles 2(5) and 6(1) regarding the prohibition of discrimination on grounds of age.

The ECJ considered whether the maximum age of 68 for doctors and dentists practising on panels within the German health system covering 90% of patients could be justified. The german governent claimed that the rule was intended to protect patients from declining performance of doctors and dentists after the age of 68.

The ECJ rejected this argument because dentists practising outside the panel system were not limited by age. This stipulation was therefore not justifiable for the protection of health under Article 2(5) and 6(1).

The ECJ did hold that under Article 6(1)facilitating the distribution of employment opportunities among the generations was a legitimate objective and that whether such a measure was could be justified depended on local labour markets.


The transcript of this case follows:-     Petersen v Berufungsausschuss für Zahnärzte für den Bezirk Westfalen-Lippe [2010] Case C-341/08 ECJ


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